Wallabies' win hard to judge due to awful French play

The Wallabies could conceivably play better than they did on Saturday night and lose this season. When the French decided to take a shot at goal when trailing 22-6 with four minutes to go in the first half, it sent out a message that the first Test of their tour was about damage limitation. They'll push hard in Melbourne or Sydney, because a 2-1 series loss would – somewhat sadly – be enough for them to return to Europe claiming a measure of progress. There was hints of the 2011 World Cup about France on Saturday night.

Wallabies forward Michael Hooper breaks away from the French to score on Saturday night in Brisbane. Photo: Getty Images

Having lost their group stage game heavily to New Zealand in 2011, they cheerily appeared in the hosts' changing room telling them they'd see them in the final – the rationale being they could beat them once, but not twice, away from home. Don't take anything away from the Wallabies – they were good – but this French side looked every inch the side that needed a late penalty to beat Scotland earlier this year.

2. Strong pass marks for Carter, White and Foley.

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Canberra continues to churn them out. Sam Carter just continued with what he has been doing all season for the Brumbies – high involvements rate, mixed with accuracy, at one stage even playing halfback from the base of the ruck with no small aplomb. Nic White was really crisp and accurate, inviting the likes of James Slipper to run onto his flat passes, and his little flick to Adam Ashley-Cooper for a disallowed try in the second half showed some real subtlety around the ruck.

Bernard Foley distributed well – the Wallabies attack has been a different beast since Tevita Kuridrani came to prominence – and the Waratahs No.10 is making that little left-foot grubber kick something of a signature. If the McKenzie philosophy is to reward those in form, Foley and White will start again next week while Carter rues his injury misfortune.

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3. Moore's loss has taken the wind out of the sails.

The captaincy issue nothwithstanding, the Wallabies had an opportunity to be world class for 80 minutes at hooker with Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau. The Waratahs No.2 was excellent when he came on, and it's probably an area where McKenzie saw some opportunity come Bledisloe time (especially if Keven Mealamu's calves were to go again).

The Wallabies' lineout functioned impressively – Ben Mowen's absence wasn't an issue at all – and such is the threat that Rob Simmons, in particular, poses on opposition ball that a lot of French possession was at the front of the lineout. The scrum was strong, and the Wallabies even made some healthy yards with a drive or two. The pack traditionally gets more more criticism than praise, but it has not been beaten now for five Tests.

4. Toomua grows in stature.

When James Slipper and Matt Toomua were withdrawn after 64 minutes, it looked like a compliment. Toomua has become such a valuable player. Soft hands, strength in contact, and a growing knack for making defensive plays that force an error. Think back to Dublin last year, when a heavy Toomua shot jolted the ball free from an Irish ball carrier close to the line – he was at it again on Saturday night, rushing forward and smashing the French.

He looks bigger this year, as if he has packed on another few kilograms onto an already naturally strong frame to be better suited to take the weight and volume of traffic at No.12. And the best thing about the improvement in this Wallabies back line is that it's sustainable. Toomua, Kuridrani, Folau – they're all young men.

5. England are a problem that isn't going away.

Had All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa been dealt with as severely as Marland Yarde in stopping a try-scoring opportunity, not even the All Blacks might have been able to engineer another late escape on Saturday. England are well coached. full of belief and in Manu Tuilagi have a midfielder of astonishing power.

Regardless of what the rest of their New Zealand tour brings, they are building impressively towards the World Cup – where the Wallabies, of course, have to meet them in the group stages, alongside Wales. And we might have to get used to it. Not only are England the defending under-20 world champions, but their muscular disposal of the baby Wallabies on Friday night showed there is plenty more talent coming in the pipeline.